Camera body construction



Jan. 5, 1954 J BOLSEY 2,664,798

CAMERA BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 11, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l Il N IN VEN TOR.

EM M

Jan. 5, 1954 J,'BQL$EY 2,664,798

CAMERA BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 11, 194'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 2IN VEN TOR. g4 B1:

Jan. 5, 1954 J. BOLSEY 2,664,798

CAMERA BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 11, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3IN VEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims. (Cl. 95-31)My present invention relates to photographic cameras, and moreparticularly to the general construction of such cameras.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a photographic camerawhich is easy to manufacture and simple to use and nevertheless adaptedfor taking pictures of high quality.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a cameraconstruction which is absolutely light-tight.

With the above objects in view, a photographic camera according to mypresent invention comprises in combination a camera body having a top, arear and a bottom face, an objective lens and focusing means arranged inthe front part of the camera body, film transporting and guide ingelements arranged in the rear part of the camera body, a camera topfitting upon the top face of the camera body so as to form a compartmentbetween its inner face and the top face of the camera body, means foroperating the film transporting and guiding elements arranged within thecompartment and operatively connected with the film transporting andguiding elements arranged in the rear part .of the camera body, aremovable camera cover adapted to cover the rear and bottom faces of thecamera body, and light excluding means arranged along the edges of theremovable camera cover between the same and the camera body.

A particularly preferred camera construction according to my presentinvention includes in combination a camera body having a top face, arear face having two lateral edges, and a bottom face having a frontedge, an objective lens and focusing means arranged in the front part ofthe camera body, film transporting and guiding elements arranged in therear part of the camera body, longitudinal projecting rims arrangedalong the lateral edges of the rear face of the camera body, alongitudinal projecting rim arranged along the front edge of :the bottomface of the camera body, a camera top ,having a rear edge and fittingupon the top face of the camera body so as to form a compartment betweenthe .inner face of the camera top and the top ,face

of the camera body means for operating ,the film transporting andguiding elements arranged within the compartment and ,operativelyconnected with the film transporting and guiding elements arranged inthe rear par-tof thecamera body, a range finder arranged also within thecompartment and operativelyconnected with the objective lens, aremovable combined rear and I ibottom'camera corerihaving 311 po tio wit65 Furthermo e. the camera body is provided a top and two lateral edgesand a bottom portion with a front edge and adapted to cover said rearface and the bottom face of the camera body, longitudinal groovesarranged along the lateral edges of the rear portion of the camera covercooperating with the longitudinal projecting rims arranged along thelateral edges of the rear face of the camera body, a longitudinalprojecting rim arranged along the top edge of the rear portion of thecamera cover cooperating with the longitudinal groove arranged along therear edge of the camera top, and a longitudinal groove arranged alongthe front edge of the bottom portion of the removable camera covercooperating with the longitudinal projecting rim arranged along thefront edge of the bottom face of the camera body.

The novel features which I consider as characteristic for my inventionare set forth in particular in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its construction and .its method .ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. l is a rear view of my new camera with the cover removed. seen indirection of arrow 1 of Fig. 2

Fig. 2 is a top view of the camera shown in Fig. l with the top memberof the camera removed, seen in direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the camera shown in Figs. 1 and 2,along line 3--3 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a, longitudinal elevational section through the camera shownin Figs. 1 to 3, along line 4-4 of Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is .a fragmentary elevational section through the transportingand counter mechanism of the camera shown in Figs. 1 to 4, along line5-5 .of Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal plane section through thecamera shown in Figs. 1 to 4, along line 6 -6 of Fig. 1

My new camera contains as main elements a camera body ID, a camera top Hand a detachable camera cover [2.

The camera body 10 is provided with a central cylindrical compartment l3into which fits the lens barrel 14 carrying in usual manner the lens [5and the shutter mechanism I6.

This camera body I0 is provided, as clearly shown in Figure 2, at itstop, with a compartment l1 surrounded by the fiat .rim [8.

' the same.

along its two lateral vertically extending edges 23 with U-shapedgrooves 24, as shown in Figures l and 2. Finally, the camera body isalso provided along its bottom edge with a longitudinal projection 25 asshown in Figure 3.

The top member ll mentioned above contains also a compartment 19 formingtogether with the compartment I? in the camera body ID a large combinedcompartment. Furthermore, the top member of the camera is provided alongits front edge with a fiat rim 28 having the same shape as the frontportion of rim l8 and adapted to fit on Along the rear edge of the topmember I! a U-shaped groove 2| is provided in the rim 22 of the same;this rim 22 is, as clearly shown in Figure 3, arranged so as to projectrearwardly beyond the rear edge of rim I8 of the camera body I8.

The cover 12 is composed of a rear cover portion 21 and a bottom coverportion 28. The rear Y cover portion 21 is provided along its top edgewith a longitudinal projection 29 adapted to fit into the correspondingU-shaped groove 2| of the top member H, as clearly shown in Figure 3.Furthermore, the rear cover portion 2'! of the cover member I i isprovided along its lateral vertically extending edges with twolongitudinal projections 38 adapted to fit into the correspondingU-shaped grooves 24 provided along the lateral edges 23 of the camerabody NJ, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Finally, the bottom portion 28 ofthe cover I2 is provided along its front edge 3| with a U-shaped groove32 into which fits the longitudinal projection 25 arranged along thebottom edge 25 of the camera body ID, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The camera cover I2 is secured to the camera in proper operativeposition covering the rear and bottom of the camera body ID by means ofa turnable closure mechanism 33 of conventional type, whenever desired.

The camera body itself is provided not only with the cylindricalcompartment l3 but also with two film compartments 34 and 35.Compartment 34 contains the film spool 35 from which the film strip 31is unwound and compartment 35 contains the take-up spool 38, upon whichthe film strip 31 is wound during its transportation.

During such film transportation, the film strip passes over the guidingroller 39, between the rear exposure face of the camera body is and thepressure plate 4! of conventional design mounted on the camera cover I2,and engages before reaching the take-up spool 38 the film sprocket 42,as clearly shown in Figure 6.

This film sprocket 42 is carried by the shaft 43 freely rotatablymounted as shown in Figures 1 and 5, in openings provided in thehorizontal partition wall 41 and the bottom wall 55 of the camera bodyI0. As shown in Figure 5, shaft 43 carries at its top end the pinion 44.This pinion 44 is in mesh with the idler pinion 45 carried by the pinionshaft 46 freely rotatably mounted on the horizontal partition wall 41 ofthe camera body ill. The pinion shaft 46, in turn, carries a stoppingpin 48 adapted to turn together with shaft 48.

The stopping pin 48 is arranged so as to abut, as shown in Figures 2 and5, against the end face 49 of the spring member 53 secured by means ofscrews 5| to the horizontal partition wall 47 of the camera body ID.

This spring 50 is provided with a projecting portion 52 engaging theannular face 53 formed on shaft 54. This shaft 54 is mounted freelyturnably and slidably in axial direction in corresponding openingsprovided in the horizontal partition wall 4'? and bottom wall 55 of thecamera body l8, and carries the take-up spool 56. This take-up spool 56is provided with longitudinal cut-outs 5'? into which projects the pin58 secured to shaft 54. This pin 58 makes it possible to turn thetake-up spool 58 by turning shaft 54, independently of sliding movementof such shaft in axial direction.

Shaft 54 is extending, as clearly shown in Figure 5, at its upper endthrough a corresponding opening in the top member II and provided at itstop with an operating film transporting knob 5Q. It is evident that bypulling knob 59 in direction of arrow 88 it is possible to bend theblocking spring 58 upwards so as to move its end face 48 out of the pathof the stopping pin 48.

Shaft 54 carries also a counter pinion Bl constructed so as to have onegear tooth less than pinion 45. This pinion 5| is freely turnably andslidably mounted on shaft 54 and in no way connected with the same so asto engage permanently, i. e. also during sliding of the shaft, thepinion 45 and to be turned by the same.

Finally, the transporting and counter-mechanism of my camera includesalso a counter-disc B2 freely turnably carried by shaft 54 but con:nected by means of a friction coupling 63 of conventional design withthe pinion 6| so as to turn together with the latter. 'This counter-disc62 'is provided with an indicating arrow 84 cooperating with a scale 35arranged on the upper face of top member I! around the counter-disc 82and adapted to indicate the number of exposed pictures.

My new combined film transporting and counting mechanism operates asfollows:

The film strip 31 is inserted, as shown in Figure 6, engaging sprocket42. If it is desired to transport the film strip 37, it is onlynecessary to turn knob 59 so as to pull the film in direction of arrow56. Movement of the film strip 3'] in direction of arrow 66 will resultin turning of sprocket 42 in direction of arrow 61 which, in turn, willresult in turning of the pinion 45, shaft 48 and stopping pin 48 indirection of arrow 53. During turning in direction of arrow 65, thestopping pin 48 will abut against the end face 49 of spring 50 andthereby stop further turning of pinion 45, pinion 44 and sprocket 42,thus preventing further transportaiion of the film strip 3?.

In this position the film strip 31 is ready for taking a picture. Aftertaking of the picture, it is necessary to enable further transportationof the film. This is done by pulling knob 59 in direction of arrow 3%.This will result in lifting of spring 5!; and disengagement of the endface 49 of the same and the stopping pin 48.

During such disengagement, the stopping pin 48 will automatically turn asmall distance in direction of arrow 63, thereby moving under or beyondthe end face 19 of the spring 58. This automatic turning movement of thestopping pin is, as I have found, due to the fact that the film stripbetween the take-up spool 38 and sprocket 42 is under a slight tensionwhile 42 is prevented from turning. The moment the stopping pin 48 isreleased, the film strip 3! under tension turns the sprocket 42 whichresults in turning of the pin 48 under or beyond the end face 48 ofspring 50.

The knob 59 is then released and is forced by spring 50 to return intoits original position. In

he-me n im a set fo h a ove. th s p n pin 48 has moved under or beyondthe end face 49 of spring 50. and is able to freely. turn in directionof arrow 68 until it hits again against the nd ac o e sp ing 50. suchtur ing of pin 48 is accomplished by turning of knob 59 which will, ofcourse, also result in turning ofv the take-up spool 54 andtransportation of a predetermined length of film strip into exposureposition.

Thus, in order to transport consecutive film portions of predeterminedlength, it is each time only necessary to turn knob 59 until suchturning is blocked, then to pull it in direction of arrow. 88, torelease it and to turn it again.

The counter mechanism connected with the above. described transportationmechanism automatically indicates the numberof film portions which havebeen transported: This is due to the fact that during each filmtransporting cycle the pinion 45 turns 360 resulting in turning ofpinion 61 about an angle which is slightly smaller than a completecircle. By properly arranging the lines of scale 65, it is possible toobtain by means of the indicating arrow 64 proper indicationof thenumber of transported film portions.

The friction coupling 63 mentioned above connecting the pinion. 6| withindicating disc 62 makes it possible to turn the indicating disc 62 backinto its initial position at the start of operation, i. e. afterinsertion of a new film strip whenthe same is ready. for taking thefirst picture.

In order to facilitate insertion of the film strip 31- and its properand easy attachment to thetake-upspool 54, I provide on the outersurfaceof this spool a sprocket pin 69. arranged so as to be adaptedtoengage one of the sprocket holes of the film strip. Furthermore, Isecure to the take-up spool 54 a substantially cylindrical spring member10 serving for guiding the film.

I have found that if the end of the film stripis pushed under thisspring member so as to be temporarily held by the same, and the take-upspool-is turned, the pin 69 will enter one of the sprocket holes, of thefilm and firmly hold the str n I wish tomentionthat in order to enableuninterrupted rewinding of the film, i. e. transportation of the filmfrom the take-up spool 38 upon the film spool 36 byturningknob H, thespring 50 is bent so as-not to block continuous turning-of pin 48 whenthe same is turned against direction of arrow 68. This purpose isattained by providing a slopingextenslon H onspring ll-the end of whichreaches under the path of pin 48 so thatthe entire springtogether withthe endface 49 thereof is depressed and sliding,

under the pin 48 without blocking the samewhen the pin is turned againstdirection of arrow 68 by rewinding of the film strip asset forth above.

My camera is equipped with a range finder arrangement of entirely newtype. This range finder arrangement is a separate unit and is mounted ona base plate 12. This base plate 12, in turn, is mounted on the bottomof the compartment l'l formed within the top surface of the camera bodyIll. In order to enable adjustment of the entire range finder, I provideadjusting pins 13 forming part of the camera body and sliding inlongitudinal slots 14 provided in the base plate I2. The screws 14 servefor securing the base plate 12 to the camera body in adjusted position.On this base plate 12, I pivot by means if I,

cylindrical body portion I3. andlthe lens barrel.

' turning movement of the. guiding sleeve. 93 will be transmitted by.means. of the. helical slots. 94.

ofthe pivot 15 the flat lever 16 carrying the turnable range findermirror II. This lever 18 is permanently forced to turn in direction ofarrow 18 by the leaf spring 19 secured by means of screw to the baseplate 12 and abutting against the upwardly bent portion 8! of lever 16.

Furthermore, I mount the operating lever 82 by means of the pivot 83 onthe base plate 12. This operating lever 82 is, engaging by means of itsdownwardly bent portion 84 the pin 85 mounted on the lens barrel l4 soas to be adapted to be turned about pivot 83 by movement of this pin. Atits other end 86, the operating lever 82 is contacting the end of thelever 16 and turn ing the same so as. to adjust. the position of mirror'll.

My new range finder unit also includes a. stationary top plate 81 held.by the spacing plate 88 at a slight distance from the base plate 12 soas to serve as. guide for the. two. levers l6 and 82. This top plate 81,also carries the stationary mirror 89.

My new range finder constructed and arranged as described above,consists. of very few parts,

is extremely simple to and adjust and is very reliable in operation.

My new camera is also equipped with an entirely new type of lensmountandmeans for operating the range finder:

The lens 15 together with theshutter. mechanism i5 is carried by thelensbarrel, I41 which. provided with two radially extending pins 90 and, 85.Pin 85 is relatively, long and engages, as set forth above and clearlyshowninFigure 3, the downwardly bent. portion 84 of the operating. lever$2 forming part of. therange finder, arrangement described above.

The pins 85 and 90. are passing through and are guided bylongitudinallsl'ots, 9|. provided in the cylindrical portion I31 of thecamera body Ill surrounding the lens barrel [4. Thus, the lens barrel [4is prevented from. turning but. able to slide indirection of the opticalaxis of the camera as indicated. by arrow 92;

Between the inner, cylindrical surface of the [4,1 arrange a cylindricalguiding sleeve 93 pro.-

ided with two helicalislots, 9.4. and 95' through.

which are passing the. pins. 85 and 90; respectively. Thiscylindricallguiding sleeve 93 is. provided withan annularslot 96 intowhich project the guide plates 91 secured to. thecamerabody I0. Theseguide plates 91.. prevent. movement of the cylindricalguiding sleeve 83in.axia1.die

.rection as indicated by arrow 92', while permit? ting its turningabout'the optical axis of the lens.

At. the. front edge. of. the. cylindrical guiding sleeve 93. describedabove. I, provide. a focusing. lever 98. By turning of. this focusinglever. 98 it is possible toturntheguiding sleeve.93. Such and pins 85and 98 to the lens barrel l4 resulting in sliding of the same in axialdirection. During such sliding movement of the lens barrel [4, the pin85 secured thereto Will operate the range finder as described above.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofphotographic cameras, differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied inphotographic cameras using perforated film strips, I do not intend to.

seems be limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of my invention.

- Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gistof my invention that others can by applying current knowledge readilyadapt it for various applications Without omitting features that, fromthe standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristicsof the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore,such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

This is a continuing application of application Serial No. 779,301,filed October 11, 1947, now Patent No. 2,508,095, issued May 16, 1950.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i 1. In aphotographic camera in combination, a camera body having a topface, a rear face having two lateral edges, and a bottom face having afront edge; an objective lens and focusing means arranged in the frontpart of said camera body; film transporting and guiding elementsarranged in the rear part of said camera body; longitudinal groovesarranged along said lateral edges of said rear face of said camera body;a longitudinal projecting rim arranged along said front edge of saidbottom face of said camera body; a camera top having a rear edge andfitting upon said top face of said camera body so as to form acompartment between the inner face of said camera top and said top faceof said camera body; means for operating said film transporting andguiding elements arranged within said compartment and operativelyconnected with said film transporting and guiding elements arranged inthe rear part of said cam era body; a range finder arranged also Withinsaid compartment and operatively connected with said objective lens; alongitudinal groove arranged along the rear edge of said camera top; aremovable combined rear and bottom camera cover having a rear portionwith a top and two lateral edges and a bottom portion with a front edgeand adapted to cover said rear face and said bottom face of said camerabody; longttudinal projecting rims arranged along said lateral edges ofsaid rear portion of said camera cover cooperating with saidlongitudinal grooves arranged along said lateral edges of said rear faceof said camera body; a longitudinal projecting rim arranged along saidtop edge of said rear portion of said camera cover cooperating with saidlongitudinal groove arranged along said rear edge of said camera top;and a longitudinal groove arranged along said front edge of said bottomportion of said removable camera cover cooperating with saidlongitudinal projecting rim arranged along said front edge of saidbottom face of said camera body.

2. In a photographic camera, in combination, a camera body having a topface, a rear face having two lateral edges, and a bottom face having afront edge; an objective lens and focusing means arranged in the frontpart of said camera body; film transporting and guiding elementsarranged in the rear part of said camera body; longitudinal groovesarranged along said lateral edges of said rear face of said camera body;a longitudinal projecting rim arranged along said front edge of saidbottom face of said camera body; a camera top having a rear edge andfitting upon said top face of said camera body so as to form acompartment between the inner face of said camera top and said top faceof said camera body and to project slightly rearwardly along the rearedge of said top face of said camera body; means for operating said filmtransporting and guiding elements arranged within said compartment andoperatively connected with said film transporting and guiding elementsarranged in the rear part of said camera body; a range finder arrangedalso within said compartment and operatively connected with saidobjective lens; a longitudinal groove arranged along the rear edge ofsaid rearwardly projecting portion of said camera top; a removablecombined rear and bottom camera cover having a rear portion with a topand two lateral edges and a bottom portion with a front edge adapted tocover said rear face and said bottom face of said camera body;longitudinal projecting rims arranged along said lateral edges of saidrear portion of said camera cover cooperating with said longitudinalgrooves arranged along said lateral edges of said rear face of saidcamera body; a longitudinal projecting rim arranged along said top edgeof said rear portion of said camera cover cooperating with saidlongitudinal groove arranged along said rear edge of said camera top;and a longitudinal groove arranged along said front edge of said bottomportion of said removable camera cover cooperating with saidlongitudinal projecting rim arranged along said front edge of saidbottom face of said camera body.

JACQUES BOLSEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,105,256 Mihalyi Jan. 11, 1938 2,153,813 Pritschow Apr. 11,1939 2,172,337 Mihalyi Sept. 5, 1939 2,231,731 Mihalyi Feb. 11, 19412,358,327 Harris Sept. 19, 1944 2,378,406 Harris June 19, 1945 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 488,934 Great Britain July 15, 1938 524,649Great Britain Aug. 12, 1941) 563,305 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1944

